Intelligent source routing for mobile handset message service providers

ABSTRACT

A routing method for a mobile handset message system to facilitate identification of the correct return path for messages initially passing through a gateway from email or other electronic text or graphics message transmission device interfaced customers to message enabled mobile handset customers; the routing method including the steps of: a) providing a routing system associated with a gateway; the system having a predetermined number of output lines each having a different calling line identifying number (CLID); b) identifying the target telephone number for each incoming message received by the system; c) routing each successive incoming message directed to the same target mobile handset through a different calling line identifying number based upon a predetermined pattern of usage in which the calling line identifying numbers are to be utilized; d) storing a return path associated with each calling line identifying number and associated with each message which is dispatched from that number to a target mobile handset; e) receiving a return message from a mobile handset at the same calling line identifying number which dispatched the original message and recalling the source of the original message which passed through that calling line identifying number; f) routing the return message from the mobile handset to the originating source destination via an appropriate protocol converter.

The present invention discloses a routing system to facilitate thereturning of messages from from mobile handset message recipientsutilising or example SMS, EMS or MMS formats on mobile cell phones tomessage originators utilising electronic text or graphics messagetransmission devices other than a mobile phones. The followingexplanation of the invention is given with reference to the popular SMSformat but it is not intended that the invention be restricted to suchformat.

It is currently possible and indeed popular for message originators, “A”parties, to send messages via e-mail to target persons, “B” partiesutilising the SMS features of mobile phones. In order that such messagesprogress through the mobile telephone system and effect a change offormat from E-mail to SMS it is necessary that the service providerinterpose a “gateway” incorporating us ma-SMS protocol translatorbetween the two systems. These gateways do not have the capability ofrouting return mess from the “B” party's mobile phone when the returnmessage is initiated merely by utilising the SMS “reply” function ofsuch phone. In order that current gateways correctly match the replymessage to the original “A” party message it would be necessary for the“B” party to embed a code in the return message entered into the SMSfunctions of the mobile phone which code is readable and interpretableby the gateway through which the return message passes. This would beboth inconvenient and impracticable.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to facilitatereturn messages being sent by a graphics or text message recipientutilising a mobile handset back through a gateway to an originatingparty having an e-mail or other electronic text/graphics message sendinginterface without the handset enabled party having to embed a code inthe return message.

According to the present invention there is provided an intelligentsource routing system for a mobile handset message system to facilitateidentification of the correct return path for messages initially passingthrough a gateway from email or other electronic text or graphicsmessage transmission device interfaced customers to message enabledmobile handset customers; the routing system including the steps of:

-   -   a) providing a routing system associated with a gateway; the        system having a predetermined number of output lines each having        a different calling line identifying number (CLID);    -   b) identifying the target telephone number for each incoming        message received by the system;    -   c) routing each successive incoming message directed to the same        target mobile handset through a different calling line        identifying number based upon a predetermined pattern of usage        in which the calling line identifying numbers are to be        utilized;    -   d) storing a return path associated with each calling line        identifying number and associated with each message which is        dispatched from that number to a target mobile handset;    -   e) receiving a return message from a mobile handset at the same        calling line identifying number which dispatched the original        message and recalling the source of the original message which        passed through that calling line identifying number;    -   f) routing the return message from the mobile handset to the        originating source destination via an appropriate protocol        converter.

One embodiment of the preset invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying flow charts in which;

Flow chart 1 depicts a typical path for an E-mail progressing from an“A” party tough a gateway associated with an intelligent source routingdevice to a “B” party utilising the SMS features of a mobile phone and;

Flow chart 2 depicts a typical return path for an SMS messageprogressing from a “B” party through a gateway and intelligent sourcerouting device in accordance with the present invention to anoriginating “A” party.

With reference now to FIG. 1 it will be noted that when the message isreceived by the intelligent source routing device the device first looksat the addressee and the then requests a CLID which is not in use duringthe current cycle relative to that addressee. Once a CLID is assigned tothe message and it is established that that CLID is not already in useduring the current cycle relative to that addressee the message may bedispatched the mobile phone utilising the assigned CLID. Of course anappropriate protocol conversion will have been effected by the gatewaysomewhere along the message pathway.

It should be noted that the protocol conversion which must take place iseffected by a gateway in the normal manner. An intelligent sourcerouting device maybe incorporated within the gateway or alternativelythe gateway effecting the protocol conversion maybe placed between the“A” party and the intelligent source routing device or alternatively theintelligent source routing device may be placed between the “A” partyand the gateway.

Turning now to FIG. 2 it will be seen that when the “B” party replies toa message from the “A” party the message is received by the intelligentsource routing device at the telephone number (CLID) originally assignedby the relevant database and then a query is sent to the database inorder retrieve the original message and hence identify the relevantreturn path Once the return party is identified the protocol conversionis effected and the message is dispatched to the “A” party.

If for example the mobile phones an a given system possess only acapability of storing ten SMS messages (as is currently the case) anintelligent source routing device in accordance with the presentinvention having subscribers with such phones need only have 10 CLIDs.

An appropriate cycle pattern may be a round-robin pattern or a timeperiod of one week or even one month. It will be appreciated that if acycle time of one week is chosen then any messages stored on aparticular mobile-phone which are over one week old will not be capableof being the subject of a reply via the intelligent source routingdevice having regard to the fact that the database associated with CLID)through which the message originally passed will have cleared therelevant information and hence the return path will have been“forgotten”.

In the event and that the cycle time is set at one week and more than 10messages are sent to a particular a mobile phone during that period thenthe latest message will be assigned to the CLID which handled theearliest message and hence the information referable to the earliestmessage will have been lost and it will no longer be possible for theintelligent source routing device to accept a return message in respectof such earliest message. Of course this will be of no consequence asthe earliest message will probably also have been deleted from therelevant mobile phone in order that the phone can except its latestmessages.

It will be appreciated that alternate embodiments of the presentinvention may be devised apart from those embodiments above describedand it is the intention of the present document that such embodimentsfall within the scope of the present invention. For example theelectronic text or graphics communication device being used by the “A”party need not be E-mail but may for example be an interface using theXML data transmission format.

1. A return message routing method for a mobile handset message systemto facilitate identification of the correct return path for messagesinitially passing through a gateway from email or other electronic textor graphics message transmission device interfaced customers to messageenabled mobile handset customers; the routing method comprising thesteps of: a) providing a routing system associated with a gateway; thesystem having a predetermined number of output lines each having adifferent calling line identifying number (CLID); b) identifying thetarget telephone number for each incoming message received by thesystem; c) routing each successive incoming message directed to the sametarget mobile handset through a different calling line identifyingnumber based upon a predetermined pattern of usage in which the callingline identifying numbers are to be utilized; d) storing a return pathassociated with each calling line identifying number and associated witheach message which is dispatched from that number to a target mobilehandset; e) receiving a return message from a mobile handset at the samecalling line identifying number which dispatched the original messageand recalling the source of the original message which passed throughthat calling line identifying number; f) routing the return message fromthe mobile handset to the originating source destination via anappropriate protocol converter.
 2. A return message routing method inaccordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the mobile handset message systemis comprised of mobile cell phones in conjunction with the existing SMSprotocol.
 3. A return message routing method in accordance with claim 1hereof wherein the predetermined number of output lines exceeds thenumber of messages that may be stored in individual target mobilehandsets.
 4. A return message routing method in accordance with claim 1hereof wherein the pattern is time based such that a sequence of CLIDusage by the system referable to a particular target handset is observeduntil the expiry of a time limit whereupon the sequence of CLID usage isrepeated or an alternate sequence of usage commenced.
 5. A returnmessage routing method in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein thepattern is a closed loop such that CLIDs are initially utilized inaccordance with a predetermined sequence and after exhaustion ofavailable CLIDs for a target handset the CLIDs are reused in apredetermined sequence.
 6. A return message routing method in accordancewith claim 1 hereof wherein The message originators are email interfacedto the gateway of the system.
 7. A return message routing method inaccordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the message originators areinterfaced to the system via a web page utilizing HTTP protocol.